I have been making a concerted effort to read more non fiction novels for the last couple of years. It’s tough to get into for sure, but when I pick a book from this genre, I know it’s something that I absolutely want to read. I don’t get into the habit of picking what’s popular, though that’s not necessarily true in most cases: see Michelle Obama’s Becoming. I’m also a creature of habit so books that I tend to get into are either about politics or feminism.

Today, I thought I’d share with you the top 3 novels that have graced my bookshelves this year. These are the books that made such an impact on me; they made me think. And as in the case of one book, strengthen my conviction.

If you’re like me who has a vague sense of who these women are and would like to learn more about how they essentially changed the world, pick up this book. Here, you will learn about their impact in our environment. From urban planning, conservation and protection of the chimpanzees’ ecosystem; to the banning of highly toxic pesticides, these four women are the heroines who fought relentlessly to make our world a little bit safer. This is their brief autobiographies focused on their contributions to the world as we know it.

BEASTIE BOYS BOOK by Michael Diamond, Adam Horowitz et al.

This book was extraordinary in all sense of the word. But the only way to enjoy this fully is by downloading the audio book and reading the physical copy at the same time. The audio book contains an amazing star-studded narrators while the hardback itself is a treasure trove of a multi-media feast. I’ve not read anything like it. I was only a semi-fan before but after reading it, I’ve become obsessed. The Beastie Boys’ contribution to hip-hop is truly extraordinary. These threeJewish boys from Brooklyn brought with them their own brand of rhymes and beats. Their humble beginnings and their collaborations with a few household names in both Rock and Hip Hop genres are the stuff dreams are made of. They also addressed/apologized for sexism & misogynistic lyrics in the past. Check out my Instagram for a complete look at this book.

NOTORIOUS RBG: The Life and Times or Ruth Bader Ginsburg by Irin Carmon, Shana Knizhnik. Illustrated by Ping Zhu

There are women whose stories inspire you. And there are women whose lives make you feel empowered and insignificant at the same time. Ruth Bader Ginsburg, along with the four women of the first book of this post, are those women. They fought against all odds at a time when women’s places are definitively at their homes and not on the streets in protest, or as in the case of Supreme Court Justice Ginsburg, in the law courts. To be instrumental to the institution of equality laws in your land at a time when women working was an incongruous as stay at home dads, was mind blowing and awe-inspiring to say the least.

SPECIAL MENTIONS: Becoming by Michelle Obama, Tomorrow Will Be Different: Love, Loss & the Fight for Trans Equality by Sarah McBride, Shortest Way Home: One Mayor’s Challenge and A Model for America’s Future by Peter Buttigieg.

Have I mentioned how much I love Fall? It’s my favourite season. When I was a devout NFL fan, I couldn’t wait for that first leaf to turn burnt orange. But now that I don’t watch it anymore, I look forward to this season because of how conducive it is for readers like us. Second only to Winter, I think it’s the best season for us, readers. Thick sweaters, fleece pjs, socks…it’s the most wonderful time of the year! Today, I would like to share with you some of the books I definitely want to read this season. I will update this list as I go along because I’m only putting up 5 books for now. We all know I read more than 5 books in a month, but these are the books that I want to get to first:

Brood by Chase Novak is a horror about children that were made in a lab that go feral when they reach a certain age. Apparently, this is the second novel to a series that I’ve not read, but I’m throwing caution to the wind and see how this one will go.

Beartown by Fredrik Backman. I picked this up a couple of weeks ago on my thrift store jaunt with my daughter. I love this author but I’m a little intimidated, if a little scared as this one has themes of rape. I’m looking forward to reading it regardless.

The Kite Runner by Khaled Hosseini. This summer, I had the privilege to read A Thousand Splendid Suns by this author. I was awed by how beautifully he described Afghanistan despite the horrors of wars, poverty and violence that his country can’t seem to get away from. This is his debut novel which has won a ton of awards and accolades. Looking forward to this one, even though it’s probably going to hurt just as much.

Contagion by Erin Bowman. Now, I haven’t had much luck with Ms. Bowman’s books in the past, but I love these kinds of stories. This one, however, is set in space.

Girl, Wash Your Face by Rachel Hollis. The overwhelming response to this book is: “meh, nothing new here, folks”. I still want to read it, though.

So these are the books I’m planning to cozy up to this Fall — among others that are in my TBR, that is. Let me know if you’ve read any of these, and if you’re planning on creating Fall reads list as well.

Hey, all. How was your weekend? I didn’t get much reading done as weekends are usually crazy busy in my house. My husband works at night during the week so he typically naps all weekend long which means I have to do most of the household chores if I ever want to keep a clean house and have some clean laundry for the entire family. Lol.

Anyway, the last time I did one of these was November of last year – certainly been a while. This week, I have a 2016 release from David Arnold and a recent one from Sandra Brown. While Ms. Brown is a staple on my shelves, David Arnold’s work are a new taste. Can I just say that this was such a pain to write? WordPress is such a bitch to use nowadays. *facepalm* And I think I missed one WordPress update so now, I can’t download the newest one because I’m missing a component. Seriously considering switching to another platform if it weren’t such a pain and a half. Sigh.

So here are the synopsis:

FBI agent Drex Easton is relentlessly driven by a single goal: to outmaneuver the conman once known as Weston Graham. Over the past thirty years, Weston has assumed many names and countless disguises, enabling him to lure eight wealthy women out of their fortunes before they disappeared without a trace, their families left without answers and the authorities without clues. The only common trait among the victims: a new man in their life who also vanished, leaving behind no evidence of his existence . . . except for one signature custom.

Drex is convinced that these women have been murdered, and that the man he knows as Weston Graham is the sociopath responsible. But each time Drex gets close to catching him, Weston trades one persona for another and disappears again. Now, for the first time in their long game of cat and mouse, Drex has a suspect in sight.

Attractive and charming, Jasper Ford is recently married to a successful businesswoman many years his junior, Talia Shafer. Drex insinuates himself into their lives, posing as a new neighbor and setting up surveillance on their house. The closer he gets to the couple, the more convinced he becomes that Jasper is the clever, merciless predator he’s sought–and that his own attraction to Talia threatens to compromise his purpose and integrity.

This is Drex’s one chance to outfox his cunning nemesis before he murders again and eludes justice forever. But first he must determine if the desirable Talia is a heartless accomplice . . . or the next victim.

Victor Benucci and Madeline Falco have a story to tell.It begins with the death of Vic’s father.It ends with the murder of Mad’s uncle.The Hackensack Police Department would very much like to hear it.But in order to tell their story, Vic and Mad must focus on all the chapters in between.

This is a story about:

1. A coded mission to scatter ashes across New Jersey.2. The momentous nature of the Palisades in winter.3. One dormant submarine.4. Two songs about flowers.5. Being cool in the traditional sense.6. Sunsets & ice cream & orchards & graveyards.7. Simultaneous extreme opposites.8. A narrow escape from a war-torn country.9. A story collector.10. How to listen to someone who does not talk.11. Falling in love with a painting.12. Falling in love with a song.13. Falling in love.

I really am sorry for the formatting of this post. I have to figure it all out somehow. I hope you’ll have a great week of reading and nice weather, y’all.

It’s easy for us to get bogged down with things that don’t matter. In all honesty, I know it’s the reason why I had a tough time in 2018. Finding a balance between life, family, and self-care has always been a daunting task. The trick is to not only declutter our own spaces, but also our day to day activities. If you know what your priorities are, it will be easy to have a structure in your schedule. But this post isn’t about that.

This post is about the things that I need to remember so I can avoid having a repeat of 2018. I’ve been blogging since 2011, and every year I worry about the little things that deter me from enjoying my hobbies again. Things like book review deadlines, acquiring the latest hyped-up book, hauling books every week just so I can show everyone my recent acquisitions. And most of all, I got caught up with comparing my reads, my followers, my popularity with everybody else. Last year, it got to a point when I would go for weeks at a time without checking my blog. All because with every day that passed by without a post, the heavier I felt about it all. So I just ignored it all together.

Somehow, I lost sight of what it means to have an outlet for my thoughts, opinions, and emotions. I may know a few people who are just as crazy about books as I am, but they’re far and few in between. My blog, besides being an outlet for my opinions, is also a way for me to reach out to the world and connect. And even if my blog is tiny, somewhere out there, it will find a way to someone beyond the far reaches of my imagination.

My blog is a hobby.

It’s a place of creation; a place where my mind gives birth to something spontaneous, and even artistic. Ideas that are not forced. Ideas that come as naturally as breathing. It’s also a place where ideas can die but in a natural progression as in life. And that’s okay and perfectly acceptable. Above all else, it’s a hobby. One that I should enjoy and not treat as an obligation.

I cannot/will not apologize.

Sometimes, we get caught up in pleasing others or fitting in with the majority that we lose sight of who we are. It’s the same thing when we review books. Don’t apologize for your opinions. Don’t get into the habit of looking over your shoulders to see what everyone else is doing. YOU DO YOU.

R E S P E C T

Respect others as you would respect yourself. And the only way to do that is to be honest with yourself and your audience. Take pride in what you do but never ridicule others for their choices and opinions.

You are not in a race/competition.

Envy is a deadly sin. One that prevents us from enjoying what we love: reading. Forget about the bloggers that are getting ARCs and new books left, right and centre. Worry about the books that are left unattended on your shelves. Compete against yourself. Beat your previous goals. Challenge yourself to read books that you wouldn’t otherwise read. But don’t give in to pressure. Don’t let anybody else dictate what you should read.

With the discovery of an audiobook lending app from my library, comes the fruitful task of managing to read some books from my TBR that are long overdue. But on the other side of that coin is the discovery of new authors to obsess about and consequently acquiring more books.

Admittedly, Salman Rushdie is a household name in the annals of widely-known literary geniuses whose work I’ve considered as an unattainable dream. I didn’t think his writing would gel with my pedestrian comprehension skills. But when I found The Golden House available for download, I snapped it up right away. I had very little expectations as to how much I would enjoy the book. I knew it was going to go over my head. To my surprise, it proved me wrong. Now, I’m scrambling to find some of his novels. I picked up his controversial, award-winning novel, The Satanic Verses right away.

Preston Norton isn’t new to the YA world. But his most recent work, Neanderthal Opens the Door to the Universe, took my breath away. It was a beautifully written novel about grief, family, and friendship cultivated in an otherwise unwelcoming world. His book is easily one of my favourite reads this year and would be the diving board to plunging into his writing.

Ronald H. Balson’s Liam Taggart and Catherine Lockhart series is a true discovery. I could not stop reading/listening to the book. The first in a series about a lawyer and a private detective who became partners in a case about a World War II survivor set in exacting his revenge against a Nazi. My introduction to his work was breathtaking, heartbreaking, and simply beautiful. It had the air of making the reader feel wholly involved.

I love discovering authors and their work. It allows me to venture out of my reading comfort zone and examine how far I’d grown as a reader and as a person.

Have you discovered any good writing lately?

As a certifiable bibliophile, I’m always curious to see what a person is reading. So I take advantage of any opportunity that I can get to see what an author/blogger/celebrity is reading at any given moment. Well, today, I have Ms. Susanna Kearsely. She’s incredibly busy, I know this. But she’s such a lovely person for indulging my quirks.

I don’t read much fiction while I’m writing. Every writer is different, but for me, I find that if another storyteller’s voice is strong, it sometimes influences mine without my even knowing it, so I usually stick to more visual entertainment like movies or TV while writing.

Between books, though, I do try to make a dent in my ever-growing TBR stack.

These five books are closest to the top. The fact they’re all male-authored mysteries is because the novel I’ll be writing next, The Vanished Days, has a mysterious storyline narrated by a man, so I’m doing research—pleasure reading with a purpose:

Thieftaker and Thieves’ Quarry, by D.B. Jackson—the first two books in his Thieftaker Chronicles, a historical urban fantasy series set in pre-revolutionary war era Boston, with a conjurer hero named Ethan Kaille.

Cloudland, by Joseph Olshan, a literary thriller based on a true story of unsolved crimes, set in Vermont, and written by the award-winning author of Clara’s Heart.

So Disdained, a World War II thriller by one of my favourite writers, Nevil Shute. I’ve read most of his novels, but I’ve purposely held back a few, like this one, to reward myself with between writing my own books.

and,

The Man From St. Petersburg, by Ken Follett. I read this one years ago, when it first came out, but I’ve mostly forgotten the finer details of the plot, so I’ve cycled it back again onto my reading pile.

Give it a week, though, and I’m sure there’ll be other books piled on top of these. My TBR bookstack grows like a weed. I can’t help myself.

Thank you for sharing, Ms. Kearsely. These books sound intense in their own way. Piqued my curiosity, to say the least. 🙂

Penny Reid easily became an auto-buy author for me as soon as read her serial, Elements of Chemistry. I loved the story so much that I reach for it time and time again when I’m in need of a good romance. But I soon found other books of hers that are phenomenally good. Knitting in the City is one of those series that I’ve grown to love. The characters are well-rounded; the dialogues are off the charts witty, and the romances are simply heart-fatteningly good. Bonus: every single one of the books are hilarious!

So while I was on an extended leave from the blog, and while I suffered from the worst case of reading slump, Penny Reid was my saviour. I’ve read the majority of the books in this series. But during my time off, I discovered these other books that I did not know existed.

Neanderthal Marries Human by Penny Reid

I’m such a huge fan of this series. I can’t believe I ever stopped following the books. I love Janie & Quinn. They’re a match made in heaven. Janie’s practicality and intelligence play evenly with Quinn’s stoicism and wit. This follows the trials and tribulations of their engagement and subsequent marriage. Hilarity and hijinx ensue.

Ninja at First Sight by Penny Reid

Ack. Greg & Fiona’s beginnings. My heart. <3 If you’ve been following this series, you’d know that Fiona is an ex-CIA operative who now manages their home without her husband Greg. And it’s because of his job. I fell in love with the way they kind of tried to stay away from each other to no avail. Greg is hilariously British. He’s sarcastic and witty. Fiona is serious and intelligent. I love these two!

Marriage of Inconvenience by Penny Reid

Rounding up this series is book #7 to Penny Reid’s Knitting in the City series. I do believe this is the last book, and it’s the story of Dan the Security Man and Kate, the heiress in hiding. I also love this story even though at times, I wanted to kill a few people. Lol. Regardless, Dan and Kate made it worth my while. I love the epilogue. I love seeing their respective kids grow up. I do hope we’ll read their stories in the future.

Scenes from the Hallway by Penny Reid

This is a series of stories featuring Kate and Dan the Security Man. I love seeing their beginnings and the reason for why they were apart for most of the Knitting story line. This is a preamble to book #7, so to speak. It’s a lovely story between Kate and Dan – their palpable attraction even through their time apart. They truly struggled and it’s all because of a miscommunication between them. Oh horrors of horrors.

Other Books in this Series

Have you read any books from Penny Reid? Which is your favourite?

Hello. As you know, I’ve been lucky enough to be a part of Simon & Schuster Canada’s Timeless Tour endeavor. It features three books depicting stories from three time periods. As a fan of Historical Fiction, this was a great experience for me as it allowed me to see three stories from different eras. So today, I’d like to share with you what I’ve thought so far.

What was your favorite historical time period among the Timeless Tour reads? Did you know anything about this period before you began reading the book?

As a creature of comfort, it would be easy for me to dream about living in Versailles where excess was rampant and decadence was the norm. But I supposed living it up in that time period would depend on the hierarchy of my social status. There’s also that language barrier thing that limits my knowledge to French numerals and days of the week. So I don’t think living in that time period would work out so well for me.

In Promises to Keep, I was shown the idyllic lives of the Acadian people in the East Coast during the 17th century. It offered a bountiful farmland and an abundant sea. It shows a life that left most of its inhabitant cocooned in contentful simplicity. That is until the English invaded and ruined the party. What happened next was immeasurable hardship and loss for the Acadian people. Resilient though, as they may be, I can’t say the same for myself.

Now, who wouldn’t want to live in historic Siena, Italy? The entire country is on my bucket list so it would be easy to assume that I’d pick the 15th century to time travel to, right? Besides the fact that I wouldn’t know the first thing about living life in medieval times (that creature of comfort thing is very inconvenient), this is the Black Plague period, y’all. Where people died in the thousands! So no, I wouldn’t want to go back to this era only to suffer the same fate.

So I’m faced with a conundrum. If given the choice, which era can I truly find myself living in? Well, since all three presents different challenges, I supposed I’d pick the one where I’ll be able to control my destiny and choose Versailles. I can learn a trade and work if my social caste falls below what’s considered bourgeois. And the language barrier thing is not really all that challenging. If it can be learned, I can handle it.

How did the historical events in each book influence the character’s choices and personalities?

The one thing that the heroines in all three books have in common is resilience. It would be easy to write off Jeanne (The Enemies of Versailles) as one who’ve used the basest form of feminine power to influence her stature in life, but regardless of the method, she did what she could to change things with nary a thought to propriety. Don’t get me wrong, she realized that she was being used by the dubious and powerful Du Barry but in turn, she found a way to use this to her advantage.

Amongst the three, Amelie, perhaps was a person who characterized resilience and strength in the most obvious way possible. The incredible struggle she and her family went through during the Expulsion of the Acadians didn’t lessen her resolve to hope, to believe, and to live. And though at times she seemed like she’d reached the end of her rope, this girl just kept strengthening her resolve until she found renewed courage.

Beatrice, on the other hand, was propelled by the love of her brother who had become her father since they were orphaned when he was only 17 years old. She was also very intelligent (neurosurgeon) and very brave for continuing her brother’s quest despite having the odds stacked against her. She found a way to delay her grief if only to fulfill her brother’s legacy. Finding herself in the 13th century with no means to get back to the present didn’t faze her. She worked with what she knew and used her intelligence to survive.

If you could invite one of the Timeless Tour leading ladies (Beatrice, Jeanne, or Amelie) to dinner, who would you choose and why?

I feel like Beatrice would have a lot of stories to tell. Besides the fact that she knows a great deal about the human brain, her stint in the Middle Ages must’ve given her a different perspective about the world in general. Even though she’s a Scientist first and foremost, I can tell she’s a thinker as a whole. And the lady never stopped learning. She’s very intuitive, curious, and completely adaptable.

The Scribe of Siena starts in the present before Beatrice is transported back in time to 1347, whereas Promises to Keep and Enemies of Versailles are firmly rooted in one timeline. How did this change your reading experience?

I don’t think there’s no other way for this story to begin but at the present time. I mean, considering time travel is a key element to this novel, starting it in the past wouldn’t nearly have the same effect. I love this book. It’s perfect the way it is. 🙂

In the past, powerful women have been written out of textbooks. How do the protagonists of the Timeless Tour novels challenge the misconception that women in history were passive, submissive and dependent?

The women in the three novels were all resourceful and resilient creatures. They found ways to overcome obstacles even while restrained by the ties that bind them. Jeanne used her beauty to change her station in life; Amelie stood up to the soldiers that were holding her family hostage. With each loss she suffered, she picked herself up because she had a family who was dependent on her. Beatrice’s quest to continue her brother’s work was met with resistance from the local scholars who seemed to have their own agendas working in the background. Not to mention, her courage shown when she was transported to the Middle Ages. So time and time again, these women exuded strength, fierceness, and audacity unheard of the time period which they belong.

Thank you for joining me today and I’m sorry this took a bit long. I wanted you to see the fierceness of these women with whom I had the pleasure of reading.

This week’s Top Ten Tuesday prompt is about the books that I’ve read in a flash. These are books that are incredibly short but not necessarily serials.

We Should All Be Feminists by Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie

52 pages. Read in March 2015

Feminism explained in a clear, concise manner. If you’ve ever struggled to explain what it is, Adichie’s TEDx speech is a must-read. Don’t get me wrong, everyone has their own definition. But this tiny little book is the bible I adhere to.

Morphineby Mikhail Bulgakov

64 pages. Read in December 2013

It literally took me half an hour to read this book. It’s about a doctor’s tragic love affair with depression and morphine. This is Bulgakov in his rawest, I thought. I remember reading it at a time when I was desperately clawing my way out of the deepest pits of a reading slump. It did the trick!

Ronit & Jamilby Pamela L. Laskin

Audio, 1 hr and 29 min. Read in March 2017

I’ve been looking forward to reading this book so when it came out, I got it right away. I’m not gonna lie, I thought there was a mistake when I saw the length. I didn’t realize this book was written in verse, which is no big, except it felt incomplete and it didn’t really live up to my expectations.

You Will Not Have My Hateby Antoine Leiris

99 pages. Read in February 2017

I don’t think anyone would soon forget the horrors of the terrorist attacks in Bataclan, Paris. When men opened fire at a concert, killing 90 people in the theater alone. One of them was Antoine’s wife. She left a husband and their son barely two years old. Three days later, he wrote this letter to her murderers. This book is sad and hopeful in equal measure.

This Is Water: Some Thoughts, Delivered on a Significant Occasion, about Living a Compassionate Lifeby David Foster Wallace

138 pages. Read in March 2017

There’s never been a book more powerful than this one. David Foster Wallace’s one and only commencement speech is an eye-opener about life, compassion and how we’re programmed to think.

The Housekeeper and the Professorby Yōko Ogawa

180 pages, Read in March 2014

If you’ve ever found Mathematics romantic, this book is written with you in mind. Admittedly, I picked up this book because of the underlying allusion to a romance in the title. Boy, was I disappointed! Still, this book was amazing. It made me appreciate Math in a whole another spectrum.

Assholes: A Theory of Donald Trumpby Aaron James

144 pages. Read in June 2016

Fuck this guy. Seriously. Fuck him. <– Real thoughts about this book and its subject. I think I’ve already made my position known about President Shit for Brains. Anyway, Aaron James philosophies on how America got here.

The Strange Libraryby Haruki Murakami

96 pages. Read in 2015

Wildly imaginative. Totally crazy and absolutely out of my range as far as fiction goes. Sadly, this was my baptism of fire in the world of Murakami. And we didn’t get on well. He pulls his readers in fantastic realms that only his brilliant mind could conceive. Unfortunately, I missed the bus on this one. Still, a nice intro, if I may so myself.

The Ocean at the End of the Laneby Neil Gaiman

178 pages. Read in 2013

Speaking of brilliantly weird books, The Ocean at the End of the Lane is another one that went over my head. A book so odd that to this day, I couldn’t describe exactly what it was about. One thing I’ve deduced from reviews of his work is that they have the overwhelming characteristics of a fairy tale anointed by the Grimm Brothers themselves.

Between the World and Meby Ta-Nahesi Coates

154 pages. Read in 2016

I read this in December when it seems like I was angry every fucking day. Oddly enough, I felt a sense of unburdening after finishing this book for the second time literally hours after I read it the first time. I took stock of where I am and how it bad it could still be. And I hate that my perspective in life was suddenly a little better at the expense of another’s.

Every month, I always try to make it a point to tackle review copies first before anything else. March is no different. Aside from Moon Called by Patricia Briggs, the books on my pile are for review that’s been sitting on my shelf for a time now.

Nostalgia by MG Vassanji won the Governor General’s award for literature here in Canada. It’s about a man who is suffering from Leaked Memory Syndrome. It’s when memories of his past lives come seeping out from the deep confines of his brain. It has such an interesting premise, but I must admit that it’s intimidating me a little bit.

I’ve decided to re-read Moon Called by Patricia Briggs in an effort to get this series off my TBR. I own the first 6 books and since this series has been widely loved by practically everyone I know, I thought it was high time.

I’m a huge fan of suspense/mysteries, so The Girl Before is right up my alley. Looking forward to reading this one.

I’m more than halfway done with I See You and enjoying it so far. I had assumed that this book will not be out until April, for some reason so I’m a little late in posting my review.

READ LAST WEEK

Seven Days of You was cute. Oryx And Crake was insane. Act Like It was pretty good but not as good as Pretty Face.

So this has been my week. I’ve been relatively absent from the blog for no other reason than tiredness and laziness. I’ve written a few posts to get me through the week, though so I’ll try to be on schedule this time.